This page provides a basic overview of traditional literature reviews. You may have been tasked with writing a literature review as part of your course, or need to conduct one as part of your research.
What is a traditional literature review?
A traditional literature review (sometimes referred to as a narrative review) is a critical summary and analysis of existing research in a particular field of study, helping to identify key themes, trends, and gaps in knowledge.
It can form part of a research thesis or it can stand alone as a separate document.
This type of review is particularly useful for gaining a comprehensive understanding of a subject, and is well-suited for exploring complex or interdisciplinary topics where diverse sources and perspectives need to be considered.
Unlike a systematic review, a literature review does not seek to be exhaustive. The aim to is identify the overall important literature in a topic area.
Searching approaches
There are different approaches to structuring a literature review, depending on your purpose. This means that the approach to searching for literature will also differ.
One way to structure a literature review is to start out broad and then gradually narrow to the more specific aspects of the topic. You may begin with the broader context and foundational concepts, discuss themes and consensus within the literature, and then based on this context identify the specific research gap.
With these goals in mind, literature reviews often involve various and flexible searches for different types of information. You may alternate between broad and narrow searches - locating relevant background information, connecting overall topics together, and identifying key authors and issues in the field.
For more information on searching for literature, see Comprehensive searching and Planning your search.
Citation chaining
You may find it helpful to utilise relevant articles by tracking their references (the older work they are based on) and their citations (the newer work that builds on them in some way).
Research gaps
Finding research gaps requires reading widely in your field and identifying the missing pieces. One method is to consult the papers you find for their insights, looking in sections such as the 'Discussion', 'Future research' or 'Limitations'.
Further guidance
As there is no single method for conducting a literature review, it is important to consult with your supervisor/academic/faculty to see if there are any specific requirements you need to follow.
Searching for resources
Postgraduate and honours students can book a Research consultation with a subject specialist librarian who can provide guidance related to searching for articles for a review, including:
- Choosing the right databases
- Pinpointing effective keywords and subject headings
- Applying advanced search techniques to ensure the most comprehensive and relevant sources are found
Writing and referencing
Academic skills supports students by providing workshops, consultations and resources from reflective writing to referencing.
- You can watch their Literature review webinar
- They also provide online guidance on literature reviews and frequently asked questions
Further reading
-
SAGE research methods online This link opens in a new windowA searching tool that links together research methods content from SAGE’s dictionaries, encyclopedias, books, journals and videos. See the 'Project Planner' for step-by-step guidance to complete your research project.